Overview

• The latest episode, released on BBC iPlayer on October 2 ahead of its BBC One broadcast, is framed as an event installment featuring multiple departures.
• Multiple outlets report the chapter includes four exits, positioning it as a mass cast change.
• Lacey Turner has confirmed she is taking an extended break from the series, aligning with the current on-screen transition.
• Jake Wood’s Max Branning is back for a short stint, with a permanent return billed for later this year.
• Producers are leveraging staggered streaming drops and managed teases to roll out returns and reshape storylines for the coming months.